Film, music and TV critic

Do television stars under contract to a network have any choice in the shows they appear on? I’ve been wondering about that ever since watching the first episode of Bringing Sexy Back, a reality makeover show fronted by Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage. The new Channel Seven series promises “jaw-dropping transformations”, but it may be the perception of Armytage’s career and not a contestant’s body that undergoes the most radical change.

Bringing Sexy Back? Really? Even a Daddo brother would have thought twice about hosting that.

Debuting at 7.30pm on Tuesday night, Bringing Sexy Back – thanks for that, Justin Timberlake – has decent intentions and poor execution. It’s the kind of show that Larry Emdur’s incredible teeth are normally dispatched to host, but there’s Armytage enthusiastically announcing “welcome to the Sexy Truck”, which really is a truck and not a vintage panel-van on loan from Puberty Blues.

Redeeming qualities: Bringing Sexy Back's strong point is its cast, who are earnest about losing weight and getting healthier.

There are two ways to host a somewhat questionable television show: with a knowing smile that allows the talking head to play along but also play up, or totally straight so that it’s clear that you’ve bought in to this nonsense. Armytage has opted for the latter. “This is Sam Armytage in the Sexy Truck,” she announced early on, introducing herself via CB to a truck-driving subject, and it was all downhill from there.

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Hearing Armytage use her best newsreader voice – composed, authoritative – to deliver lines such as “he applied to bring his sexy back” was at first disconcerting, and then – the fifth or sixth time – just ludicrous. Having risen through the news and reporting rank at Seven and gained an anchor slot opposite David Koch on Sunrise, the network’s 6am flagship, Armytage has noticeably misstepped in the name of building her profile. There’s a reason Brian Naylor never hosted a show called Shake It Up in the Sack.

The concept of the show is that Australians who are struggling with weight and associated health issues are put through a television-friendly makeover, complete with a trainer working them out and refashioning their diet, a repeated discussion of their flaws, and finally a visit from a stylist. You know the format: The Biggest Loser with a dash of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

The flaws were apparent from the very first line. “I look at these pictures,” says a future participant, gazing mournfully at her previous swimsuit body along with the viewing audience, “and I see myself and I go, ‘I was hot’, I was.” Under the guise of feelgood sympathy, the show ruthlessly equates personal satisfaction and the attaining of your goals with a perfect body image – it’s all for the silhouette, nothing to do with the soul. Yet hotness is not a representation of healthiness.

Excellent casting made the debut episode vaguely viable. Ned from rural Victoria had put on 70 kilos in two years, reaching a body fat figure of 44 per cent and losing his dream job driving roadtrains in Western Australia, and his enthusiasm and desire to do more for his girlfriend, Becky, who he wanted to propose to, was genuine. His tears, caught on camera, were honest, as was his satisfaction when a grueling hike ended (at sunset, atop a mountain).

Ned’s situation, partially rectified by losing 46 kilos to weigh in at 125, raised some valuable wider issues, most of which the show glossed over in favour of Armytage earnestly asking Becky, “you must be pleased that Ned has decided to bring sexy back?” The endless repetition of “sexy” and connecting it to body image has to be counter-productive for those who struggle with their weight, and it’s just plain odd that it dominates a show in a family-friendly timeslot.

Watching this made me wonder whether Armytage is just tone deaf in terms of what she’s broadcasting if there’s no teleprompter involved. Watching her on Sunrise last week it was apparent that the show’s relentless drive to be your best friend had her cracking jokes that didn’t quite connect; you can tell because with three people sitting alongside Armytage at least one normally can’t hide their puzzled bemusement.

It’s hard to tell on that show, with its ruthless half-hour format repeated six times a day. Perhaps there’s only so many segments about a monkey taking a selfie you can tee up before your outlook skewers. But Bringing Sexy Back? Really? Even a Daddo brother would have thought twice about hosting that.

77 comments

Its a stupid show and Sam looks silly hosting it .what was she thinking .it will ruin her career . I switched off after ten minutes .boring.

Commenter

Roly

Location

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 4:46AM

@Roly - ruin her career? Come on, you can hardly call that early morning dross a serious career, can you?

TV becomes more and more vapid by the week as programmers recycle the failed rubbish from their previous failures. Surely it is only a matter of time before people switch off from these FTA dinosaurs altogether and source their entertainment from elsewhere?

Commenter

Phil

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 6:19AM

100% Phil - as long as we accept the skewed 'ratings' scheme in this country, we will be fed this drivel - its a wonder these people keep their jobs.

Commenter

frank

Location

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 7:31AM

Agreed Phil. I avoid TV, I just buy or download and watch at my leisure. No ads and one dimensional presenters to upset me.

Commenter

eyeroll

Location

Sydney

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 8:04AM

This show is further living proof that the quality of Australian TV is continuing its downward slide into the gutter - this stuff is utterly confected boring rubbish !

The dumbing down of Australia continues as long as this type of tripe continues to be broadcast to the ignorant masses.

Bread and Circuses for the masses.....while the real issues are being ignored.

Commenter

Walter Burley White

Location

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 8:36AM

You switched on? Why would you do that? Why would anyone do that? There is only a small percentage of Australians watching commercial TV in the evening anyway and it's only a matter of time before advertisers realise this. They are wasting their budgets targeting such a small particular type of audience who most likely don't have any money anyway.

Commenter

Peter

Location

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 9:45AM

I dont think some of these presenters have much choice. They are employees of 7, so if they dont like the gigs they can always quit. A bit like when Grant was hosting that Tilt show. I got the impression he hated it.

Commenter

Ryan

Location

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 10:23AM

The producers were lazy .. They saw biggest loser an thought , how abt a show where we just every week jump to the finale reveal.. Wudnt it be fun??

And no offence, wht makes Samantha the perfect host the show? If the "sexiness" about the show is losing weight .. then shouldnt she be a cotestant?

or is she a contestsnt as part of the finale? now that is a show .. Are you listening producers

Commenter

Cm syd

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 4:56AM

"The producers were lazy".

What a great comment from someone who chooses to randomly omit vowels from words, thus making them barely comprehensible.

The print version of the SMH may now be tabloid size, but that doesn't mean that standards should be allowed to drop so far.

Commenter

Roger

Location

Sydney

Date and time

August 14, 2014, 5:45AM

Apart from the fact that your out off line picking on SA, or anyone for their weight, its a form of bullying or trolling.

Let me just say that SA is in the healthy range for her weight and size. So shes not an anoerix stick insect, you seem to like, but so what.

Shes not realy my type, but thats more because of her on air personality she portrays,